Tightening device.



H. ENGLISH.

TIGHTENING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIONPILED AFB. 3, 1908.

923,960. Patented June 8, 1909.

HARVEY ENGLISH, OF MILLIKIN, LOUISIANA.

TIGHTENING DEVICE I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1908.

Patented June 8, 1909. Serial No. 425,038.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HARVEY ENGLISH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Millikin, in the parish ofEast Carroll and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and usefulWire-Tightening Device, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters ofreference marked thereon.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout thespecifications and drawings.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device that can be usedinstead of the wooden pins and glass insulators now in use on poles,cross-arms and other surfaces su porting electrical and other wires;that W1ll when secured to a pole or other surface support a wire chainor rope extended ina line, and without cutting the line, will quickly,eifectively and securely take up the slack or sag of said line and holdit at any tension desired; that can be applied to the line between polesand get the same results. To do this I em loy certain combinations ofparts, first fulfy described and then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings Figure 1., is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2.is a cross section view on line x. w. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a crosssection view on line y. y. of Fig. 1.

B. is a cone shaped drum, the large end of said drum is flattened atsides F F. to receive operating wrench and bisected by slot 0. to belowlevel of top of ratchet E. The small end of drum B. has, secured theretoa flange A. having a laterally projecting rim thereon, said rim beingformed with ratchet teeth E. adapted to engage a wire when wound on drumB.

P. is a projection on under side of flange A. This projectionstrengthens flange A. and reduces the contact surface between the deviceand the surface to which it may be attached. This projection may be mademuch thicker than shown in the drawings.

W. is a hole through the center of drum B. flange A. and projection P.to receive the fastening which secures the device to a pole or othersurface.

0. O. O. O. are holes in flange A. to provide rapid drainage of waterfrom device when used in horizontal position. These holes may be aslarge as a due regard to the strength of the device will allow.

The top and face of teeth of ratchet E. and two diagonally oppositecorners of slot G. are of rounded shape to prevent line from breaking onsharp angles.

My device can be formed in one piece, of metal, glass or other materialor combinations of materials, without loose parts. This device can bemade of any size, to apply to any size of line from the smallest linemade, to a large size cable.

To operate my device any suitable fastening, as a wire spike, wood screwor bolt, is placed in hole W. and the device is secured to a pole orother surface, allowing the device to rotate freely. The line is placedin slot 0. A wrench is applied to sides F. F. of drum B., or a lever isinserted in slot C. of drum B. The device is then rotated in adirectionwhich causes the line to come in contact with the roundedcorners of slot C. wind around drum B. and engage with the teeth onratchet E. The cone shape of drum B. and the strain on the line producedby rotating the device forcesthe line to the small end of drum B.thereby keeping the line in constant contact with ratchet E. When theline is tightened sufliciently the ratchet E. securely holds it at thetension secured.

My invention has the following advantages: It is inexpensive inmanufacture, simple in o eration, and effective in results. It is capabe of universal application, can be fastened to a pole or other surfaceand applied to the line or can be applied to the line between the poles,the line, without cutting can then be tightened and held at any tensiondesired; can be used on any kind or size of line. When fastened to apole or other surface it supports the line.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of thisinVention.

I am aware that prior to my invention, tightening devices have been madewith flanges, ratchets, drums or spindles, slots and holes. I thereforedo not claim originality of inventions in their use. But I do claim thatby my combination of these and other elemental features I have produceda device which is different in design and results achieved from anytightening device heretofore produced; which can be used in any placewhere any device of this class can be used; which can be used in placesand positions Where no other device of this class can be used, andproduce same results as my device.

Of the various devices which have come under my observation, there isbut one that canbe fastened to a pole and operated; and in that one theline must be out before it can be attached to the device. That deviceWould be useless Where it is imperative that the line be in a continuousunbroken line 3 as for instance any electrical Wire line. My device canbe fastened to a pole or other surface and Without cutting the line,will tighten the line and hold it at any tension desired. My devicesupports the line, other devices,with the one above noted excepted, aresupported by the line.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a Wire tightening device, a cone shaped drum having its larger endprovided with Wrench engaging surfaces and a transverse slot adapted toreceive a line, a circular flange extending laterally from the smallerend, said flange provided with an upstanding rim having ratchet teethformed thereon, said flange having a centrally located thickened portionadapted to form a bearing surface, the drum having a centrally locatedpassage substantially as described.

HARVEY ENGLISH.

Witnesses E. E. WILLIAMSON, F. O. WILLIAusON.

